The importance of reading directions

This is my first cycle charting, and I have a MC in December. I bought a basal thermometer from CVS with a memory funtion that records your last temp. I’ve been taking my temperature at the same time every day, before I get out of bed. I reach over, grab the thermometer, wait for the beep and go back to sleep. Then I check the temp when I get up and record it.

After temping for a few days, I flat-lined at 97.70. I had no idea what it meant, how to read it, etc. It turns out that the damn thing defaults to 97.70 for every single reading, and, oncce the 97.70 appears you have to hold the button to see your last true temp. So that’s about a week of temping down the drain that could have been avoided if I had read the directions. I’ve ordered another thermometer because I’m mad at this one. I’m going to continue charting, and from the temps I have it looks like I did O at some point – I just have no idea when (I’m assuming the day after my +OPK). I’ve also been temping with my regular digital thermometer, which doesn’t match the basal, but at least it shows variation. Very frustrating.

I totally feel you because I bought a basal thermometer, and I wanted to temp the other day and realize I don’t even know what to do! Now I gotta to dig for the piece of paper that gives directions! I could’ve totally done what you did too… I’m glad you realized now so your temps can be accurate from now on!

@4littlekitties: I did the same exact thing. I would temp and then push the thermometer hours later to see what it was. After a couple days of exactly the same 97.7 I started thinking something was up. I finally got smart and recorded my temps right away to avoid this issue.

Oh no! How FRUSTRATING! I don’t know that I have any trial-by-error tips for you, but I will encourage you to find a better thermometer and keep charting. I charted for years– first to avoid pregnancy and later to conceive. I have semi-irregular and long cycles (32+ days), but when I was charting I always knew exactly when to expect my period and when to test. Man it was worth it.

@4littlekitties: I had the sammmmeee exact problem. DOH, I felt like an idiot when I found that out. Stupid 97.70. Now that I know to press and hold, I really like my thermometer. Plus I couldn’t stand any of the other ones that beep continuously.